- Shift workers die younger says exec for wearable firm Whoop Business Insider
- Shift work can kill you 15 years sooner, warns Whoop’s chief scientist, while dramatically raising your risk for depression and suicide Fortune
- Shift work can kill you 15 years sooner, warns Whoop’s chief scientist, while dramatically raising your risk for depression and suicide Yahoo Finance
- The ‘enormous sacrifice’ of shift work can lead to significantly earlier deaths, a senior exec at wearable fir Business Insider India
- Working into the night? High-end health tech sleep scientist warns being on your screen during this ‘magic period’ could have depressive effects Fortune
Tag Archives: Wearable
Sony Mocopi wearable sensors let you control avatars with your whole body
Not everyone might be buying that whole metaverse spiel, but many might have been enamored by the idea of having a virtual version of themselves in certain spaces. Imaging ourselves in a different form inhabiting different worlds goes back farther than VR and AR, but the technologies to enable such an experience haven’t exactly been available until now. Sure, you can already have a Mii or a Bitmoji to represent you today, but having them actually move like you is a completely different thing. For that, your avatar will need to be able to read and copy your body’s movements, and Sony’s latest wearable tech is going to make that as easy as wearing six sensors on your body.
Designer: Sony
Motion capture, or mocap, has been around for decades and is primarily used in the entertainment industry to make 3D models move more realistically. At first, only large studios were able to utilize this technology due to the sheer size and costs of the equipment needed to make it happen. Today, there are more affordable forms of mocap systems, but they’re still way out of reach of ordinary people who just want a virtual avatar to mirror their moves.
Sony’s new mocopi, short for “motion copy,” was designed to cater to this crowd. The entire system is composed of nothing more than six sensors that look like Apple AirTags, as well as five straps and a clip to attach them to different parts of your body. Four sensors go around your wrists and ankles, one clips behind your lower back, and another wraps around your head. As far as hardware goes, that’s really all there is to it.
The magic unsurprisingly happens on the software side, particularly with a companion mobile app that displays your live avatar of choosing. Using Bluetooth technology, the app is able to read the sensor’s motion data and translate that into the avatar’s movement in real-time. This video can later be used in different applications, like live streaming, VRChat, and more. At the time of launch, the only way you can use mocopi is with that smartphone app, but Sony plans on making a software development kit (SDK) available so that it can be integrated into other applications as well.
mocopi isn’t going to be as detailed and as fluid as professional mocap systems, but at around $360, it is significantly more affordable. It’s designed for more casual use, targeting an audience of content creators that are more interested in creating fun ways to express themselves than professional animated avatars. If it takes off, it could at least make such affordable mocap systems more common. Sony mocopi is launching in Japan in late January 2023, and it will be coming in zero-plastic packaging to boot.
Scientists Have Developed a Wearable Ring That Repels Insects
This is what the ring looks like that could help repel insects. Credit: Uni Halle / Fanfan Du
A new printable and wearable insect repellent.
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) scientists have invented a new type of insect-repellent delivery device. The active ingredient is first “encapsulated” and shaped into the appropriate shape, such as a ring, which may then be worn and releases an agent meant to repel mosquitoes for an extended period of time. The team published their findings in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
The researchers used “IR3535” an insect repellent developed by MERCK, to create their prototypes.
“Mosquito sprays containing IR3535 are very gentle on the skin and have been used all over the world for many years. That’s why we’ve been using the agent for our experiments”, says Professor René Androsch from the MLU.
It typically comes in the form of a spray or lotion and provides protection for several hours. However, Androsch and his colleagues are searching for methods to release the agent over a much longer length of time, such as encapsulating it in a wearable ring or bracelet.
Insect repellent was carefully inserted into a biodegradable polymer using a specialized 3D printing technology, and the mixture of substances was successfully shaped in various ways. “The basic idea is that the insect repellent continuously evaporates and forms a barrier for insects”, explains the lead author of the study, Fanfan Du, a doctoral candidate at MLU.
The rate at which the insect repellent evaporates depends on many different factors, including temperature, concentration, and the structure of the polymer used. After conducting various experiments and simulations, the team predicts that the insect repellent needs well over a week to evaporate completely at a temperature of 37°C (98,6 °F, i.e., body temperature).
While the researchers have proven that it is absolutely possible to develop a wearable insect repellent, the rings and other forms created for the study are only prototypes. According to Androsch, further research needs to be carried out to determine how well the rings function under actual conditions. The encapsulation material could also be further optimized.
Reference: “3D-printing of the polymer/insect-repellent system poly(l-lactic
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Spray-on ‘metallic’ plastic could be used for wearable electronics | Wearable technology
A plastic material that has metallic properties and remains stable even when heated, chilled, left in the air or exposed to acid has been revealed, with researchers saying it could prove valuable in wearable electronics.
What’s more, the material can be made into any shape, the researchers say.
“It’s a dark black powder. However, when we put it on a surface as a film, or press it like Play-Doh, it becomes iridescent and shiny,” said Dr John Anderson, senior author of the research from the University of Chicago.
“From what we can tell, it’s stable up to [about] 250 degrees celsius,” he added, noting the material has a conductivity similar to graphite.
Electrical conductivity occurs in materials in which electrons can flow freely. But it has traditionally been thought that a key feature of solid conductive materials is an ordered structure.
However the new substance, a metallopolymer formed of chains of molecules made of sulphur, carbon and hydrogen that carry nickel at regular intervals, has been shown to be highly conductive, despite being amorphous.
The team say there isn’t a solid theory to explain the material’s properties. But writing in the journal Nature, the researchers say they think chains of polymer form disordered stacks. One way of thinking about this is to imagine a messy pile of playing cards. The stacks pack together in a disordered fashion, creating a material that is amorphous but still allows electrons to flow both horizontally and vertically.
“While we don’t have a really clear picture yet, we think that the molecular design of the chains enables strong overlap and metallic character, even when it’s disordered and amorphous,” said Anderson.
The team say the material could prove valuable in a range of applications.
“We envision that these materials can be more robust electrical conductors, and they may be easily sprayed or painted onto surfaces or other devices,” said Anderson.
Mark Miodownik, professor of materials and society at University College London, who was not involved in the work, welcomed the research.
“Designing flexible polymers that can conduct electricity continues to be a longstanding problem, they open the door to wearable electronics and many other flexible applications,” he said. “This work opens up a new theoretical approach to designing this category of materials using molecular scale calculations.”
Lori Harvey stuns in purple threaded dress with a high slit that she wore to the Wearable Art Gala
Lori Harvey turned heads in a stunning purple gown which she wore at the 5th Annual Wearable Art Gala in Santa Monica earlier Saturday evening.
The talented star, 25, opted for a structured, threaded dress which clung to her fit physique as she attended the star-studded event.
The daughter of television host, Steve Harvey, posed up a storm on the red carpet in the unique and very eye-catching outfit.
Stunning: Lori Harvey, 25, turned heads in a threaded, purple dress with a structured neck piece as she attended the 2022 Wearable Art Gala in Santa Monica on Saturday
Lori’s purple backless gown contained a thigh-high slit, giving a glimpse of her long, toned legs.
A structured piece was added on top of the dress, wrapping around her neck for an artsy touch.
To keep up with the color scheme of her overall ensemble, Lori slipped into a pair of sleek, lavender-colored Christina Louboutin heels.
The star added an assortment of glistening and eye-catching rings, while a pair of dangly, teardrop earrings added a glamorous look.
Eye-catching: The backless gown had a thigh-high slit that showcased her toned legs. A structured piece was added on top of the dress, wrapping around her neck for an artsy touch
Beauty: Lori wore her hair in a sleek ‘do and added stunning teardrop earrings and glossy lip color
Her dark hair was parted to the side with sleek waves bordering her face for an additional stylish touch.
Lori’s makeup was classically done, comprising of a nude-colored eye shadow, a layer of black mascara, and nude-colored lipstick with a darker lip liner.
The star posted a series of candid shots of her in the dress to Instagram as well, with the caption: ‘WACO Wearable Art Gala ‘22: Harlem Nights.’
The beauty appeared to be in high spirits as she also posed for close-up photos to show off the detailed fabric of her dress to her devoted followers.
Radiant: To keep up with the color scheme of her overall ensemble, Lori slipped into a pair of sleek, lavender-colored Christina Louboutin heels
Lori recently opened up to Vogue about how she maintains her fit and healthy physique, explaining that ‘balance’ is very important.
‘The biggest thing for me is that I don’t really try to restrict myself too much on what I eat, but I will portion control, which I found helps me a lot more,’ she explained to the popular fashion outlet.
The SKN By LH founder also emphasized that finding her confidence was also key to her overall health and balance in her life.
‘I would say just having the inner self-confidence helps balance everything out,’ adding that she was also in therapy to focus on her mental health. ‘I think self-work is never-ending.’
Star power: Lori recently spoke to Vogue about her health and fitness routine and how having a famous father in Steve Harvey helped her cope with her own celebrity
The star also discussed how her father, Steve Harvey, has been by her side every step of the way in her successful career.
‘I think having my dad already be in the spotlight helped me navigate a lot because he had a lot of really great advice,’ Lori told Vogue. ‘He helps keep me level-headed, keep me grounded.’
When talking about her work and aspirations, the beauty told the publication, ‘My definition of success is just knocking out goals of mine that I’ve set every single day.’
The influencer further added, ‘Because every day, it is a task…you’re met with different challenges.’
Fame: Lori told Vogue: ‘My definition of success is just knocking out goals of mine that I’ve set every single day…. Because every day, it is a task…you’re met with different challenges’
New Wearable Tracks Your Alcohol, Sugar, and Soreness Levels with Microneedles
Imagine a future where, after a night of bar-hopping with friends, you can whip out your phone, consult a smartphone app connected to a wireless device stuck to the side of your arm, and find out exactly how hammered you are. It sounds like something you might see in the first couple minutes of a Black Mirror episode, but it could soon be reality—and be a huge help for people with certain challenging health conditions.
In a new study published Monday in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a device no bigger than a stack of six quarters that senses alcohol, glucose, and lactate. Aside from letting you know that you should get the Uber home from the bar rather than drive, the new wearable also has the potential to help those with diabetes have a more accurate picture of their blood sugar levels.
“This is like a complete lab on the skin,” Joseph Wang, a biomedical engineer at UC San Diego and study co-author, said in a press release. “It is capable of continuously measuring multiple biomarkers at the same time, allowing users to monitor their health and wellness as they perform their daily activities.”
The disposable microneedle patch detaches from the reusable electronic case.
Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics/UC San Diego
Current wearable health sensors for people with diabetes are typically one-trick ponies. They can continuously monitor blood glucose levels—and do it very well—but little else. This information, while clinically useful, doesn’t provide a wide-lens view into the dynamic between blood sugar and elevated levels of alcohol (which can lower blood sugar) or lactate (which can indicate muscle fatigue and tissue damage). A device that can take these factors into account can allow someone with diabetes to more precisely manage their health by optimizing their physical activity or watching out for too many extra glasses of wine.
“With our wearable, people can see the interplay between their glucose spikes or dips with their diet, exercise, and drinking of alcoholic beverages. That could add to their quality of life as well,” Farshad Tehrani, a doctoral student at UC San Diego and co-first author of the study, said in the press release.
The device can be recharged on an off-the-shelf wireless charging pad.
Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics/UC San Diego
Another major downside to wearable health monitors is their reliance on invasive needle-based sensors. While their coin-sized device has needles, the UC San Diego researchers used disposable microneedles, which are painless and minimally invasive, measuring about one-fifth the width of a human hair. The needles also contain sensors that sample your body’s interstitial fluid once latched onto the skin. This fluid fills the spaces between cells and is chock full of biological chemicals like glucose, lactate, and alcohol once you’ve had a drink.
The magic happens when different enzymes inside the microneedles react with these chemicals, generating electrical signals. These signals are then analyzed by additional sensors inside the device before being wirelessly sent to a smartphone app the researchers developed. When the new wearable was tested out by five volunteers as they went about their day eating, drinking, and exercising, data about the chemicals collected were on par with those collected by conventional measuring methods, like a commercial blood glucose monitor or Breathalyzer.
“The beauty of this is that it is a fully integrated system that someone can wear without being tethered to benchtop equipment,” Patrick Mercier, an electrical engineer at UC San Diego and study co-author, in the press release.
If you’re in the market for this one-of-kind health sensor, you might have to wait a while for a commercially viable product. The device, while rechargeable, can only run for a few hours at a time currently. The UC San Diego team is also planning to run more extensive clinical trials that could test out the wearable’s potential to measure other health-specific chemicals, like antibiotic levels when treating bacterial infections.
But once fully fleshed out, the researchers see their health sensor as promising for a whole range of people beyond those with diabetes—from athletes who want to up their physical performance, to doctors monitoring their patients after an organ transplant, and to regular folks at home who love tracking their health stats. It’s like a Fitbit on steroids.
Painless wearable gadget can measure blood sugar, alcohol and muscle fatigue at the SAME time
A new wearable gadget that fixes to the arm can measure blood sugar and muscle fatigue at the gym and alcohol levels at the pub.
Created in California, the prototype can continuously monitor three health stats – glucose, alcohol and lactate levels – either separately or simultaneously in real-time.
About the size of three poker chips stacked together, it is applied to the skin painlessly through a Velcro-like patch of microscopic needles.
These needles take readings from fluid under the skin and then sends the data wirelessly to a custom smartphone app.
Researchers hope to commercialise the device, which could provide a single solution for diabetes patients in everyday life.
The device can be worn on the upper arm while the wearer goes about their day – whether they’re at the gym or the pub
Engineers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) describe their device in a paper published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
‘This is like a complete lab on the skin,’ said study author Joseph Wang, a professor of nanoengineering at UC San Diego.
‘It is capable of continuously measuring multiple biomarkers at the same time, allowing users to monitor their health and wellness as they perform their daily activities.’
Most commercial health monitors, such as continuous glucose monitors for patients with diabetes, only measure one signal.
The problem with that is that it leaves out information that could help people with diabetes manage their disease more effectively.
For example, monitoring alcohol levels is also useful because drinking alcohol can lower glucose levels.
Knowing both levels can help people with diabetes prevent their blood sugar from dropping too low after having a drink.
Combining information about lactate – a biomarker for muscle fatigue, such as during exercise – is also useful because physical activity influences the body’s ability to regulate glucose.
The device works with a custom smartphone app, created by the research team, for data capture and visualization
About the size of three poker chips stacked together, the new device is applied to the skin painlessly through a Velcro-like patch of microscopic needles. Here, the disposable microneedle patch detaches from its reusable electronic case
‘With our wearable, people can see the interplay between their glucose spikes or dips with their diet, exercise and drinking of alcoholic beverages,’ said co-author Farshad Tehrani at UCSD.
‘That could add to their quality of life as well.’
The device’s patch of 25 microscopic needles, or microneedles, are each about one-fifth the width of a human hair.
Sticking these in a person’s arm does not cause pain, the researchers say, as the microneedles barely penetrate the surface of the skin.
Different enzymes on the tips of the microneedles react with lactate, glucose and alcohol found in interstitial fluid – the fluid surrounding the cells beneath the skin.
These reactions generate small electric currents, which are analysed by electronic sensors and communicated wirelessly to the smartphone app.
In trials, the wearable was tested on five volunteers, who wore the device on their upper arm, while exercising, eating a meal and drinking a glass of wine.
The device’s microneedles barely penetrate the dermis – the inner layer of the two main layers of the skin
The device can be recharged on an off-the-shelf wireless charging pad, like the ones used for Apple’s iPhones
It was used to continuously monitor the volunteers’ glucose levels simultaneously with either their alcohol or lactate levels.
Glucose, alcohol and lactate measurements taken by the device closely matched measurements taken by a commercial blood glucose monitor and a breathalyzer, as well as blood lactate measurements performed in the lab.
According to the team, each microneedle patch is disposable, so customers could potentially buy in bulk and stock up when they need to when the device is commercialised.
The wearable connects to a reusable electronic case that houses the battery, electronic sensors, wireless transmitter and other electronic components.
This allows the device to be recharged on any wireless charging pad used for phones and smartwatches.
Researchers have co-founded a startup company called AquilX to further develop the technology for commercialization.
Next steps include testing and improving upon how long the microneedle patch can last before being replaced.
The company is also excited about the possibility of adding more sensors to the device to monitor medication levels in patients and other health signals.
Compact Wearable “Lab on the Skin” Continuously Monitors Glucose, Alcohol, and Lactate
The device can be worn on the upper arm while the wearer goes about their day. Credit: Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics / UC San Diego
Imagine being able to measure your blood sugar levels, know if you’ve had too much alcohol to drink, and track your muscle fatigue during a workout, all in one small device worn on your skin. Engineers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) have developed a prototype of such a wearable that can continuously monitor several health stats—glucose, alcohol, and lactate levels—simultaneously in real-time.
“This is like a complete lab on the skin.” — Joseph Wang
The multi-tasking device is only about the size of a stack of six quarters. It is applied to the skin through a Velcro-like patch of microscopic needles, or microneedles, that are each about one-fifth the width of a human hair. Wearing the device is not painful—the microneedles barely penetrate the surface of the skin to sense biomolecules in interstitial fluid, which is the fluid surrounding the cells beneath the skin. The device can be worn on the upper arm and sends data wirelessly to a custom smartphone app.
Researchers at the UC San Diego Center for Wearable Sensors describe their device in a paper published today (May 9, 2022) in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The device can be worn on the upper arm and sends data wirelessly to a custom smartphone app. Credit: Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics / UC San Diego
“This is like a complete lab on the skin,” said center director Joseph Wang, a professor of nanoengineering at UC San Diego and co-corresponding author of the paper. “It is capable of continuously measuring multiple biomarkers at the same time, allowing users to monitor their health and wellness as they perform their daily activities.”
Most commercial health monitors, such as continuous glucose monitors for patients with diabetes, only measure one signal. The problem with that, the researchers said, is that it leaves out information that could help people with diabetes, for example, manage their disease more effectively. Monitoring alcohol levels is useful because drinking alcohol can lower glucose levels. Knowing both levels can help people with diabetes prevent their blood sugar from dropping too low after having a drink. Combining information about lactate, which can be monitored during exercise as a biomarker for muscle fatigue, is also useful because physical activity influences the body’s ability to regulate glucose.
“With our wearable, people can see the interplay between their glucose spikes or dips with their diet, exercise, and drinking of alcoholic beverages. That could add to their quality of life as well,” said Farshad Tehrani, a nanoengineering Ph.D. student in Wang’s lab and one of the co-first authors of the study.
Microneedles merged with electronics
The wearable consists of a microneedle patch connected to a case of electronics. Different enzymes on the tips of the microneedles react with glucose, alcohol and lactate in interstitial fluid. These reactions generate small electric currents, which are analyzed by electronic sensors and communicated wirelessly to an app that the researchers developed. The results are displayed in real time on a smartphone.
The disposable microneedle patch detaches from the reusable electronic case. Credit: Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics / UC San Diego
An advantage of using microneedles is that they directly sample the interstitial fluid, and research has shown that biochemical levels measured in that fluid correlate well with levels in blood.
“We’re starting at a really good place with this technology in terms of clinical validity and relevance,” said Patrick Mercier, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC San Diego and co-corresponding author of the paper. “That lowers the barriers to clinical translation.”
The microneedle patch, which is disposable, can be detached from the electronic case for easy replacement. The electronic case, which is reusable, houses the battery, electronic sensors, wireless transmitter, and other electronic components. The device can be recharged on any wireless charging pad used for phones and smartwatches.
The device can be recharged on an off-the-shelf wireless charging pad. Credit: Laboratory for Nanobioelectronics / UC San Diego
Integrating all these components together into one small, wireless wearable was one of the team’s biggest challenges. It also required some clever design and engineering to combine the reusable electronics, which must stay dry, with the microneedle patch, which gets exposed to biological fluid.
“The beauty of this is that it is a fully integrated system that someone can wear without being tethered to benchtop equipment,” said Mercier, who is also the co-director of the UC San Diego Center for Wearable Sensors.
Testing
The wearable was tested on five volunteers, who wore the device on their upper arm, while exercising, eating a meal, and drinking a glass of wine. The device was used to continuously monitor the volunteers’ glucose levels simultaneously with either their alcohol or lactate levels. The glucose, alcohol and lactate measurements taken by the device closely matched the measurements taken respectively by a commercial blood glucose monitor, Breathalyzer, and blood lactate measurements performed in the lab.
Next steps
Farshad Tehrani and fellow co-first author Hazhir Teymourian, who is a former postdoctoral researcher in Wang’s lab, co-founded a startup company called AquilX to further develop the technology for commercialization. Next steps include testing and improving upon how long the microneedle patch can last before being replaced. The company is also excited about the possibility of adding more sensors to the device to monitor medication levels in patients and other health signals.
Reference: “An integrated wearable microneedle array for the continuous monitoring of multiple biomarkers in interstitial fluid” by Farshad Tehrani, Hazhir Teymourian, Brian Wuerstle, Jonathan Kavner, Ravi Patel, Allison Furmidge, Reza Aghavali, Hamed Hosseini-Toudeshki, Christopher Brown, Fangyu Zhang, Kuldeep Mahato, Zhengxing Li, Abbas Barfidokht, Lu Yin, Paul Warren, Nickey Huang, Zina Patel, Patrick P. Mercier and Joseph Wang, 9 May 2022, Nature Biomedical Engineering.
DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00887-1
Funding: NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Researchers Developed A Wearable Sensor That Can Detect Infections Like COVID-19 And Influenza Through Human Sweat – Chip Chick
Since Fitbits and Apple Watches revolutionized widespread health monitoring through the use of wearable sensors, a plethora of new studies has sought to push the bounds of wearable sensors’ abilities.
Now, a team of bioengineers from the University of Texas at Dallas has collaborated with EnLiSense LLC to create a wearable sensor that can identify the prevalence of infections through sweat.
Their study, published in Advanced Materials Technologies, found that the sweat sensor can detect two important biomarkers– one known as gamma-inducible protein (IP-10) and the other known as tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).
If the wearable sensor detects elevated levels of either biomarker in your sweat, then there is likely a cytokine storm occurring in your body.
A cytokine storm is an immune reaction that occurs when the human body has contracted a severe infection.
Dr. Shalini Prasad, the head of bioengineering, described how detecting these markers via sweat is groundbreaking.
“Our work is pioneering because, until this date, it was unclear whether these molecules were present in sweat,” Dr. Prasad said.
“We established that our low-volume passive sweat technology is indeed able to measure these biomarkers.”
And with COVID-19 infections still a risk throughout the world, this sensor provides wearers with early insight into their Coronavirus positivity. It could also detect the flu.
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Opioid crisis: Wearable device could save lives, study says
TORONTO —
A wearable device that detects signs of an opioid overdose and injects a drug to reverse the event could be a lifesaving tool, according to a newly published paper by U.S. scientists who researched and helped develop the prototype.
The device, which is worn on the stomach, similar to an insulin pump, can detect when a person is experiencing an overdose and administer naloxone to reverse the event. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist and is considered very effective. It works by blocking the effects of an opioid, quickly restoring a person’s breathing back to normal.
Opioid overdoses have been a leading cause of death in places like British Columbia, and have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first nine months of 2021 alone, more than 1,500 people died of illicit drug overdoses in the province — the most officials have ever seen within that time frame and a 24 per cent increase from the same period in 2020.
In the U.S., fatal overdoses hit an all-time high as well, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that 100,300 Americans died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021, based on the latest available death certificate data. Researchers noted that opioids accounted for the majority of deaths. Left untreated, overdoses from the non-medical use of opioids can lead to respiratory failure, heart attacks, and death.
“The opioid epidemic has become worse during the pandemic and has continued to be a major public health crisis,” lead author and University of Washington (UW) doctoral student Justin Chan said in a statement.
“We have created algorithms that run on a wearable injector to detect when the wearer stops breathing and automatically inject naloxone.”
The algorithm can detect the life-threatening symptoms and patterns of an overdose, including when a person’s breathing and movements slow or stop. The prototype wearable naloxone injector system uses sensors, including accelerometers, to measure breathing, and a processor to gauge one’s movement, and sends the data via Bluetooth on breathing rates and motion to a nearby device. Accelerometers are commonly found in smartphones and fitness tracking devices to measure motion.
The system designed in this study builds on prior existing work, the authors said, but noted this design was unique in that it was evaluated on real-world participants who would be at risk of an overdose.
Scientists found that the sensors could track breathing rates with accuracy among opioid users and were able to tell changes in respiration that typically precedes a potentially deadly overdose.
This small study, conducted by a team from UW and published on Monday in Scientific Reports, involved two trials. One used the device on 25 volunteers from a supervised injection facility in Vancouver, B.C., to evaluate if the sensors were able to accurately track breathing changes and a halt in movement from opioid use in a real-world setting. The trial was used to help develop an algorithm and was not designed to actually administer naloxone. None of the volunteers overdosed or required any medical intervention.
The drug was only injected during a second trial that was conducted within a hospital setting with 20 healthy volunteers who did not take opioids. After measuring their normal breathing, participants mimicked the signs of an overdose by holding their breath and halting movement for at least 15 seconds, triggering an injection of naloxone. Blood samples were taken to confirm that the device could properly deliver the drug into the circulatory system. Only 18 participants were injected with naloxone as the device was not positioned close enough to the skin on the first two volunteers.
“Increasing access to naloxone is a necessary component of harm reduction. However, it does not address instances when there is no bystander to administer the antidote or when the event goes unrecognized by a witness,” the authors wrote in the paper, noting that up to 51.8 per cent of fatal overdoses occur when the individual is alone. In more than a quarter of cases, bystanders react too slowly because they do not immediately recognize the signs of an overdose, according to this study.
Researchers have been working on the prototype device in partnership with West Pharmaceutical Services for a number of years and are hoping to make the device, which is not yet approved by regulators, widely available. The research was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
“This wearable auto-injector may have the potential to reduce fatalities due to opioid overdoses,” said co-author and UW professor Shyam Gollakota in a statement.
The authors said that more research is needed to gauge the usability and comfort of the device over longer periods and in unsupervised settings with volunteers who would be at risk of an overdose.
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